Hidden in the Fan mountains in the northwest of Tajikistan is the resting place Rudaki, the father of Persian poetry. Born around 860, he is one of the foremost historical figures of post-Soviet Tajikistan, strongly shaping the national identity as an icon of not just artistic achievement but also as a cultural touchstone for […]
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Sarez Lake, Tajikistan: Created by the Largest Dam in the World
And now something only for the Indy-grade dauntless amongst you, who’ll leave no nook of land uncharted when they hear of it, however remote it may be. Adventurer, meet the extra challenge of your Central Asia Rally, The Sarez Lake, created by the largest dam in the world. Photo by Tim Griffin It must […]
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Tash Rabat, Kyrgyzstan: An Isolated Silk Road Caravanserai in the Back of Beyond
Say “Silk Road” and most of us see soft focus pictures of camels, flowing garments, and romantically drifting sand dunes, perhaps with a bit of low-key throat singing in the background. But this romanticized portrayal airbrushes out the real dangers that the journey entailed, for the Silk Road crossed some of the most treacherous […]
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Uzbekistan: Looking Beyond the Silk Road
Have you marveled at the magnificent turquoise domes and minarets of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, and more ancient Silk Road cities in Uzbekistan, and wondered what might lie beyond the striking mosques, and madrasas? If so, the answer is a resounding yes. There’ plenty more to see in this amazing country, such as these five […]
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The Poi Kalyan of Bukhara: a masterpiece of architecture with a dark secret
Hot on the tails of our last post on the magnificent feats of architecture that the madrashas – ancient institutions of higher education – of the Middle East are, today we turn our gaze to a particularly splendid example, the Miri-Arab of Bukhara, together with two other iconic pieces that comprise the complex in […]
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A New Cycle Begins – The Festival of Navruz
While big parts of the western world get ready to celebrate Easter, the people of Central Asia have already welcomed spring and the return of life last weekend, celebrating Navruz. This ancient festival has its roots more than 5000 years ago in today’s Iran. Being a combination of the two old Persian words “now’, […]
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King of the Mountains -The Snow Leopard in Central Asia
The Central Asia Rally will take you through the realm of the snow leopard, one of the most majestic predators of Central Asia. And if you are lucky enough, you might even catch a glimpse of the shy king himself. Photo by Tambako The Jaguar With white to yellowish, thick fur and dark […]
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Emerging from a Fairytale – The Cities of Uzbekistan
Driving across Uzbekistan along the ancient Silk Road, following the tracks of caravans and merchants of old times, we will tackle several cities full of history, architecture, mystery and adventure. Join us on an epic trip through the centuries into another era to the cities of Uzbekistan! Photo by Robert Wilson Samarkand Short History […]
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Kyrgyzstan – Best Destination for a Photo Tour
The readers of the Russian edition of National Geographic have definitely proven their taste for beauty and adventure: In a survey, in which more than 250 000 Russians have participated, they voted for Kyrgyzstan as “Best Destination for a Photo Tour”. With all its untouched mountain ranges, vast landscapes, high altitude lakes of the deepest […]
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The End of the Central Asian Adventure
As the teams relax at the Central Asia Rally after party in Bishkek, we’re sad to see that this year’s big Central Asian adventure is coming to a close. Can you see us? The Travel Scientists have a go at camoflage The official starting point was in Astrakhan in Russia, although most of the teams […]
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